REFORM IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19665, 8 July 1929, Page 11

REFORM IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

SOME SUGGESTIONS. PROVINCES AS ADMINISTRATIVE AREAS. "Ken Zealand's system of local govI eminent has been called an Augean | stable which no administration has been courageous enough to clear up," said Professor A. H. Tocker in opening a discussion on "Local Government" at a meeting of the Canterbury branch of ■. klio Economics Society of Australia and New Zealand at Canterbury College on Friday night. Mr L. C. Webb, who led the discussion, said that the present system of local government in New Zealand dated from the abolition of the provinces in 1874. Unfortunately the Abolitionists had been carried away by the righteousness of their cause and the bitterness of the fight. They were so intent on doing away with the evils of provincialism that when they had to reorganise local government they ignored the fact that the provinces were, historically and geographically, natural administrative divisions. "Provincial patriotism has lived on despite the abolition.of provincial, governments," said Mr Webb, "and it would provido an excellent starting point for a complete reorganisation of local government." Mr Webb said that the need for such y reorganisation was not peculiar to New Zealand. It existed in most countries at our stage of political development, and in both France and England was receiving much attention. The need for reform was more than a mere matter of efficient administration, for upon it hinged the whole future of democratic government. It was a truism that most countries with centralised Parliamentary governments were finding these governments unable to cope with their work. The result was that more and more power was being vested in officials. Legislation by Order-in-Coun-cil was simply a symptom of overloading. "Our political future," said Mr Webb, "lies less with the central government than with local government."

The speaker said there was a strong movement for reform in England and France. "Turning to New Zealand," said Mr Webb, "I do not think there is any need to demonstrate that local government is inefficient, that there is a great deal of overlapping, and a great deal of inconsistency." In England the strongest point against Iho sohemo was the lack of regional consciousness, but in New Zealand accidents of geography and settlement had given us the provinces, within which thero was a definite regional consciousness.

If New Zealand was to progress the problem of local government would have to be faeed; and the first step to reform would be the abolition of counties, which had little justification. Mr Webb advocated the setting up again of provincial councils which would immediately take over the functions of the counties. Such bodies could certainly deal more efficiently with roads and with education almost at once than they were dealt with at present. In the case of education the need for decentralisation was particularly urgent, but before this could take place to any great degree the local administration of education would have to be improved. Mr Webb pointed out that such a scheme meant doing away with many of our "functional" local bodiesbodies elected to deal with specific matters like education. The experience of Gcnnanv, where there was probably the best svstem of local government m the world, and also of England, went to show, however, that local bodies elected for general work were the most efficient. IV.v would deny that the English county administrations had been most successful in the sphere of education. Professor A. H. Tocker agreed with Mr Webb that the control of such things as roads might best be handled locally. The increase in the speed of transport had made this necessary. From other point* of view, too, the scheme proposed had advantages, for local jealousies led to waste. Anvone attempting to reform the svstem, however, would probably pouie up against all sorts of vested interests, and the conservatism of the people. He was not quite sure that it would be practical politics and of benefit to the country to attempt to bring in a new system without a i thorough investigation.